The Day 3 Baby Blues are *totally* a thing.
Although both of our children were much wanted and very loved, I was laid low with the 3 day blues after both of their births.
Plenty of happy memories – we don’t tend to take photos of the 3 day blues!
Day 3 Baby Blues with #1
With my first baby (now Mr 22), he swallowed a lot of meconium during birth so was hustled away to the neonatal intensive care unit to have it cleared out (I don’t even want to think about what that may have involved).
Only a couple of days later he had developed severe jaundice, and so was placed – completely naked – in a special humidicrib under lights. It was heartbreaking to see him so tiny and defenceless curled up under the plastic shield.
Plus, breastfeeding was proving to be quite difficult. Every feed was agony, and our beautiful bubba had a bit of what the nursing staff claimed was only a milk rash which worried me (I’d have been even more worried if I’d realised it could have been a sign of an allergy, but this was something I didn’t learn about it until years later).
It was a bumpy start to parenthood, but it all came to a head on Day 3 …
Yep, the old hormones were racing and I was feeling rather down that morning, waiting for the hubster … only to receive a phone call to say he would be late. We’d been broken into the night before while he was at the hospital.
I completely lost it! Three day blues plus learning you’ve been robbed? Not a great combination. A nurse heard my sobbing and came into comfort me, but I still remember her making fun of my nicely ironed handkerchief and saying that would soon be a thing of the past (yup, she was right … I mean who irons hankies?!).
The thieves stole a couple of pieces of jewellery – my friendship ring, the ring hubster gave me on our first wedding anniversary, a gold pendant – and made a mess, but I never actually saw it as my wonderful hubster cleaned it all up before I came home.
I was just so thankful the thieves *didn’t* find my wedding and engagement rings – haha to them! I’d had to take them off when my fingers swelled up with the pregnancy, and had tucked them just behind a photo frame on our dressing table so not even a very clever hiding spot.
With the insurance payout, we bought an eternity ring rather than replacing all the other items – otherwise, it would have been YEARS before we could have afforded one!
At least I got an eternity ring out of it!
But I can’t help wondering what the Day 3 baby blues would have been like if I hadn’t had to deal with the drama of being robbed …
Day 3 Baby Blues with #2
Baby #2 measured up alright ๐
By the time Day 3 rolled around with baby #2 (now Miss 19) we were both home from hospital.
The main thing I remember is that my milk came in – something that never happened with Mr 22 so I was totally unprepared for it. My boobs were hot, swollen and sore and I remember standing in the shower, bawling my eyes out, as I expressed to try and relieve the pressure. So incredibly painful, although I was thankful at the same time that breastfeeding was off to a great start. As breastfeeding the first time around had been plagued with problems, this was a very good sign.
Advice for Mums on Day 3 Baby Blues
After my experiences, the best advice I can offer to new mums facing the Day 3 blues – is to remind them that “this too shall pass”, and things usually start looking up after you’ve had a good cry (and hopefully a sleep too if somebody can look after the baby for you).
What was your experience of the Day 3 Baby Blues like? Were they as memorable as mine?!
Renee Wilson says
Oh you poor thing getting robbed while in hospital with your baby!!!! That is shocking. I’m glad they didn’t find all of your rings though. My MIL warned me about the Day 3 blues, but I don’t remember experiencing them. The hot, sore and painful boobs I definitely remember though ๐ #teamIBOT
Janet Camilleri says
The timing of the robbery really sucked. Hard to believe it’s over 22 years ago now!
Denise says
Getting robbed while giving birth would make me sob my heart out too! I don’t remember them myself but I was on a lot of pain killers at the time so it was kind of a blur. I remember my friend having them though. I got on the phone with her (this was before I had kids) and she cried her eyes out. At the time I thought it was something I said!
Janet Camilleri says
It really does overwhelm you. At least that’s how I remember it!
Jo ~ Lifestyle Fifty says
Poor you getting robbed while you were in hospital with a new baby. That would have been just too much, you poor thing. I can remember baby blues when about day three everyone came to see me, and everyone was in fine spirits, then they all left to go to a restaurant to drink champagne and toast us, while I was left in hospital with a screaming baby not knowing how to quieten it! I blubbed and blubbed!
Janet Camilleri says
Actually Jo we had visitors on Day 3 after Miss 19 was born, they were so sweet and brought a roast dinner for lunch but I was just so miserable and tired I didn’t really enjoy it x
Donna says
I remember feeling totally overwhelmed with sore boobs and a screaming baby. People coming in all happy and I was a mess!!!
Janet Camilleri says
It’s quite dramatic isn’t it – I was on a MASSIVE high after both births and then came crashing down.
JF Gibson says
Oh, that’s awful, I would have fallen apart! I don’t actually remember the Day 3 baby blues. I had two c-sections so was in hospital for five days with each and quite comfortable! It was when I got home, especially with bub number 1, where it hit me, and didn’t really pass for quite a while!
Janet Camilleri says
Yeah the timing of the robbery was pretty lousy! I was lucky the blues passed pretty quickly – although I did end up with PND later on, but that’s a whole ‘nother story …
Robyna | the Mummy & the Minx says
Oh the baby blues were horrible the first time around. My little one was jaundiced and we couldn’t take him home straight away. I bawled and bawled.
Janet Camilleri says
So was our firstborn! He had to go into a special humidicrib under the lights and I was devastated!
Beth | AlmostPosh.com says
Being robbed at any time sucks but pregnant in hospital too?!!? Not cool. I tucked my rings in the pocket of my dressing gown in the bathroom when I went in, we were robbed the year before so I wasn’t taking any chances. Like you, I also bought an eternity ring with my insurance payout since the thieves took very little apart from my grandmothers white gold wedding band and some junk jewellery despite there being all sorts of better, more easily saleable items. I got the baby blues on day 5 on the night we brought her home. Bawled my guts out then got over it.
Janet Camilleri says
Yeah pretty rotten timing … I still find myself looking in pawn / secondhand shops to see if any of my jewellery turns up!
Tegan says
Getting robbed while you were in hospital must have been horrible. I remember that painful milk coming in stage all too well! I think I must have had a sadist for a midwife as she told me not to put them under the hot water. Paul eventually told me to ignore it and the relief was awesome.
Janet Camilleri says
Tegan there are definitely some sadistic/horrible nurses and midwives out there. The first one I had when I was in labour with Mr 22 was one of them – she refused my requests for an epidural, saying I was doing “just fine”. Fortunately she went on a meal break and by the time she got back, my epidural was in place!!!
Pinky Poinker says
Looking back I think I did. I remember crying over nothing each time. It’s an emotional time and traumatic and thrilling. I reckon it’s only to be expected really. How awful to be robbed. That would definitely have made me cry.
Janet Camilleri says
It’s amazing how much our hormones control us at that time – actually any time – of life!!
EssentiallyJess says
I do remember them, though not a huge amount. I just remember feeling a bit down. Boatman remarked that breastfeeding in general affected my hormones and made me more emo. Not enough to cause a drama, but just for him to notice once I had weaned the kids and was back to normal!